The Many Faces of Narcissism

Narcissism has become a bit of a buzzword, and we've learned a good deal about it but there's much left to explore

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The combination of technology and the ongoing significant events of the last few years offer us a unique peek into our internal experiences and psychology as a species. We’re undergoing some major transitions, and thanks to things like advanced research methods and social media, we can see how people respond (and react) to the process in real-time.

We’re learning more about mental health and people’s priorities but also seeing the rise of different personalities. For instance, the word “narcissism” has become popular over the last few years. These days, narcissism is openly associated with politics, especially since the rise of Trump, and is a common buzzword in the news and on social media. But what exactly is narcissism, who does it affect most, and how prevalent is it? Turns out, the answers are less straightforward than you might expect.

Men Are More Narcissistic, But…

A massive 2015 study, which included over 30 years’ worth of data from more than 475,000 participants, discovered that, on average, men are more narcissistic than women.

Both genders were about equal when it came to displaying traits like vanity or self-absorption, but men showed far more assertiveness and a desire for power than women regarding leadership roles. The most significant gap, however, was in entitlement, when the researchers found that men are more likely to exploit others and feel entitled to certain privileges than women.

However, many point to our social gender roles and expectations that often punish or discourage narcissistic traits in girls while encouraging them in boys to explain the gaps in narcissism between genders. It seems pretty reasonable to me. I mean, doesn’t it seem likely that if boys and girls were held to the same standards, either women would display more narcissistic behaviors or men would display less?

Healthy v. Pathological v. Malignant Narcissism

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a narcissist as “an extremely self-centered person who has an exaggerated sense of self-importance.” However, narcissism has proven challenging to study, and determining the exact percentage of narcissistic people is tough for a couple of reasons.

One is, like so many other things, narcissism is more complex than just “good” or “bad;” it’s a spectrum. On one end, narcissism is a natural and positive human trait. On the other end, narcissism can become dangerous for Oneself and anyone who has a relationship with them.

Another reason is that many narcissists don’t seek or want treatment. Plenty of people may not even realize they are narcissists, and research hasn’t ever had a reason, need, or ability to track them. That said, researchers and psychologists have learned a decent amount about narcissism.